UX theory

Question 1

What are the 4 approaches to interaction design?

Answer 1

User-centered design.

Activity-centered design.

System design.

Genius design.

Question 2

User-centered design is…?

Answer 2

The user knows best. The people who will use a product/service know their needs, goals and preferences. It is up to the designer to find and explore them.

Question 3

Activity-centered design is…?

Answer 3

Focus on the activities, not the goal. A cluster of actions and decisions performed for a purpose.

Question 4

System design is…?

Answer 4

The system (people, machines, objects, devices etc.) in focus instead of the user.

Question 5

Genius design is…?

Answer 5

Skills and wisdom of the designer. If users are involved in the process it is often at the end for validization.

Question 6

What is cognitive inhibition?

Answer 6

Refers to the mind’s ability to tune out stimuli that are irrelevant to the task or process. Make the user shift focus. (For example a TENS-machine for pain relief.)

Question 7

What is convergent afferents?

Answer 7

Two or more neurons may converge into another neuron (the origin of the signal is lost). For example heart attack.

Question 8

What is meant by “Brain Stimulation” and what does TMS stand for?

Answer 8

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is used to study brain functions and neural basis of behavior.

Question 9

What is Eyetracking and what can it be used for?

Answer 9

Mapping/tracking the movement of the eye or where the user is looking. For validating the usability of a product/service. (Differs between male/female).

Question 10

What is EEG?

Answer 10

Electroencephalography. A device or technology to measure brain activity.

Question 11

What is meant by Affective Ventriloquism?

Answer 11

The emotional attributes perceived via one modality (ex. sight).

Question 12

What is Synesthesia?

Answer 12

Merging of the senses, when stimulating one sensory pathway, others are automatically and involuntarily affected.

Question 13

What is Sensorial Substitution?

Answer 13

To change on sensorial modality for another, for example, projecting a picture (visual) onto the forehead as vibrations (tactile).

Question 14

Explain the five steps in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramide.

Answer 14

Question 15

Different methods (5) for collecting user data (neuroscience).

Answer 15

• fMRI
• Behavioral observations
• Brain stimulation, TMS
• Eyetracking
• EEG

Question 16

Explain why the designer should think “what, how and why” when designing an interaction.

Answer 16

• Why: Considers people’s motivation and needs to use a product. Experience, emotions, needs and subjective impressions.
• What: Things people can do through an interactive system. Reflected by the functionality of a product.
• How: Form of interaction, concrete operations, technology involved, parameters. Framing the interaction.

Question 17

What is an unstructured interview?

Answer 17

Interview with clear goal but no template.

Question 18

What is a semi-structured interview?

Answer 18

Interview with template and open-ended questions. Often combined with probing (asking why and follow-up questions).

Question 19

What is meant by Extreme Users?

Answer 19

Their needs are amplified and their struggles are more notable. Their needs are often (not always) apparent for the wider population.

Question 20

What is a questionnaire?

Answer 20

Qlosed questions with Yes/No/Multiple-choice answers. For statistical findings and quantitative data.

Question 21

Explain the method “Diaries”.

Answer 21

In depth qualitative data. Used for gaining better understanding about people’s experience and life over a longer period of time.

Question 22

What is a Focus Group?

Answer 22

Semi-structured group interview process. Often a moderator to supervise the process. Collecting a large amount of observations in a short time span. 6-10 participants.

Question 23

What is an observation?

Answer 23

Observe when users use a product to ID errors etc.

Question 24

What is shadowing?

Answer 24

Like observation, but this time the user is aware of the observation. Also think-aloud protocol.

Question 25

What is Neuro-Plasticity?

Answer 25

Lasting change to the brain throughout an individual's life course.

Question 26

What is meant by Enteroception?

Answer 26

Perception of signals generated by the functioning of our body (heart rate, blood pressure etc.)

Question 27

Explain how a Physiologically Controlled Interaction could work for a anti-sleep system inside a car.

Answer 27

A camera placed in the rear-view mirror tracks the driver's eye movement as well as head position. If the system detects abnormal movement the steering wheel could vibrate and alarm the driver.

Question 28

Explain what the left side hemisphere and the right side hemisphere of the brain is good for/does.

Answer 28

Question 29

Where is the Occipital Lobe placed, what does it "do" and what happens if it's damaged?

Answer 29

Placed in the back of the head controlling the visual system. Damage can lead to color blindness and inhability to percieve visual movement.

Question 30

What captures the users attention? (neuroscience)

Answer 30

* Color * Movement * Evolutionary relevant stimuli (Faces) * Size * Emotional stimuli

Question 31

What does people like visually? (neuroscience)

Answer 31

* Superstimuli * Gestalt properties * Mere exposure * Symmetry * Golden section

Question 32

What is Perceptual Fluency?

Answer 32

The ease with which a stimulus can be processed.. Repeated exposure of stimulus increases Perceptual Fluency.

Question 33

Where is the Frontal Lobe located, what does it "do" and what happens if it's damaged?

Answer 33

The front of the brain, controlling ex. motor skills. Damage could lead to paralysis.

Question 34

Where is the Temporal Lobe located, what does it "do" and what happens if it's damaged?

Answer 34

The side of the brain, controlling ex. language, hearing and perception of sounds. Damage could lead to hearing disabilities.

Question 35

Explain the basic function of a Neuron and how it works.

Answer 35

Neuron's are the "brain processing unit". Connected through Axon's in different thickness for different speed and communicates via chemical receptors and mediators: "Synapse".

Question 36

Where is the Parietal Lobe placed, what does it "do" and what happens if it's damaged?

Answer 36

The top of the brain, towards the the back of the head. Controlls navigation and self-awereness. Damage could lead to lack of body senses and navigation problems.

Question 37

Explain the term Embodied Cognition with a simple example.

Answer 37

Kind of experience that come from having a body with variuos sensorimotor capacities. For example: - Children solve math problem better if they are told to use thier hands while thinking.

Question 38

Explain "Framing the interaction" (The circle)

Answer 38

MACHINE * Display: What kind of media can be applied in the human machine system for informing the user? * Controls: What kind of physical or virtual devices are applied to recieve input from the user? HUMAN * Effectors: What means (actions are employed to give feedback to the machine? * Receptors: What kind of human sensory is employed to 'sense' the machine and its intention?